This story isn't just going to be about the Meta and Tucker, that would be boring. Anyway, enjoy~


Tucker never thought he'd run into the Meta a second time, but it happened. It was weeks after the first encounter and even though his leg wasn't fully healed Tucker was up and about. He was currently scouting the forest around their camp, he had a gun and was fully capable of defending himself at least until someone came as backup. Tucker liked scout duty, he was left to his own thoughts without interruption. It gave him a lot of time to think things through, like how many ways he could hurt Felix without it being tedious and wasting time. That was one of Tucker's favorite pastimes on his patrol. This day however was different. Tucker had just wondering if it was actually possibly to hang Felix by his toes effectively when he heard it, a lot growl that startled him to the ground without thought. At the time he wasn't even sure if it was the Meta, but he wasn't taking any chances. Tucker heard the footsteps and that's when he knew that it was, for certain, the Meta was that approaching him. Tucker shook and didn't know what to do, if he shot that would make him mad and that wouldn't be pretty, if he called for help that might also make him mad. This was such a bad spot to be in right now.

There was a soft growl and Tucker slowly looked up to see the Meta looking straight down at him. Tucker remembered something Wyoming had said a long, long time again. I always get my man. Did the Meta work that way too? Tucker just stared up at the Meta, silent and still, not sure what to expect from him. Those black eyes behind that dark hair made him look wild and untamed, he reminded Tucker of those stories he heard as a kid, about wild stallions that ran the plains of the wild west. Those were his favorite stories. The Meta hadn't moved, just staring down at him. Tucker took a deep breath and very slowly got to his feet, never taking his eyes off of the Meta, who actually took a step or two back as Tucker got to his feet. When Tucker finally stood they both stared at each other in silence, sizing each other up and possibly looking for weak points. The Meta snarled when Tucker reached for his weapon.

"Whoa, hey, easy there big fella. Watch this." Tucker knew he was crazy even before he removed the gun from his side and tossed it away at the tree, but something in him said that it didn't matter. "See?" The Meta eyed Tucker oddly and took a half step back. Tucker stared at him and the Meta tilted his head, Tucker did the same. They stayed that way for awhile, then Tucker stopped first. The Meta righted his head as well. Tucker gulped and slowly reached a hand out, like one might do when hold a treat out to an unsure dog. The Meta stared at the hand for a long time as Tucker held it there, not moving. The Meta ever so slowly reached his hand out too, his eyes twitching between Tucker and his hand as if expecting him to attack but also secretly hoping he didn't. Tucker didn't dare move, he hardly breathed. When the Meta's hand rested against his he felt himself relax. The Meta tilted his head at this and suddenly moved closer. Tucker was startled by the sudden advance but did his best not to let it show.

The Meta looked Tucker all over for quite some time, examining his armor and whatnot. Tucker was practically giggling inside his helmet at the sight. After a few moments the Meta stopped and tilted his head at Tucker, Tucker tilted his back. The Meta looked at Tucker's hand again and raised it so the palm was facing him, the back of Tucker's hand facing himself. The Meta raised his own hand to be flat against it so that their hands matched perfectly aside from size. The Meta stared at it intently before looking at Tucker. Tucker blinked. He swore he saw some form of humanity in there, almost like a dawning realization, as if the Meta was trying to tell him something very important. Tucker felt as though he wasn't looking at the Meta anymore, though. He was looking into the eyes of Maine. Tucker felt himself give a soft gasp. He was still in there. Maine looking right at him from behind eyes that weren't his. Wash had told Tucker that Maine's eyes had been blue, these new wild, black eyes weren't Maine's. But, was it at all possible, that Maine really was truly hiding behind those animistic eyes? The Meta's head turned suddenly and he yanked his hand back. Tucker turned as well but saw nothing.

"What?" Tucker looked back at the Meta. The Meta merely growled and ran off. Tucker grabbed his gun then hesitated. "Damn it." Tucker grumbled and ran after the Meta, careful not to trip over the roots or rocks. Tucker stopped after a few moments when he realized the Meta was nowhere in sight. Tucker sighed and looked around him. He didn't know where he was either. "I am a fucking idiot." Tucker sighed and turned in what he guessed was the direction he came from and started walking back. In the meantime he decided to go back to wondering if he could string Felix up by his toes, and how he would do it if he could.

After about an hour of walking later Tucker figured out that he wasn't heading in the right direction and sat down with an irritated sigh. He leaned his chin in his palm and looked around idly, not sure what to do now. He tensed when he heard footsteps behind him and instantly lept to his feet, gun in his hands. He grunted when it was yanked away from him and he was grabbed from behind, a knife held to his throat.

"Hey there, Tucker." Felix laughed and looked Tucker's gun over. "You really are way to easy to grab, ya know that?" Tucker spat in his direction and Felix scowled, but he decided to keep comments to himself. "Come on, let's get him back." Tucker felt something hit him in the back of the head and everything went black.

When Tucker awoke his arms were tied behind a tree and a gag was tied tightly around his mouth. Tucker counted to soldiers. There were eleven not including Locus, who was also there. Felix probably was back at the New Republic. Tucker suddenly panicked at the thought. Had he told them that they were dead? That the Federal Army killed them, so that they would hate them even more? Tucker hated Felix more now. That asshole would get what was coming to him. Maybe he should hang him up by his toes, even if it wouldn't work. Tucker was pulled out of his thoughts when he saw Locus coming over, reaching into his belt for something. Tucker did his best to straighten up a bit and pull his legs up just in case. He glared at Locus.

"Relax. I'm not going to kill you. At least, not yet. We need your friends first." Tucker huffed and continued to glare. Locus sat down a few feet in front of Tucker. The two looked at each other a long moment before Locus looked away and pulled a cigarette out of his belt. Locus removed his helmet and set it beside him, pulling a lighter out as well. "So, Levernius." Tucker watched Locus idly light the cigarette and take a swig. Locus looked at Tucker with an almost bored expression. "Who was your friend back there? The one that killed my men." Tucker snickered and Locus seemed to be resisting a scowl. Locus pulled back the gag. "Answer me."

"He's the Meta, aka Agent Maine of Project Freelancer. And, friend? Dude, he was after me. He just happened to get pissed at you guys." Locus stared at Tucker silently a moment before taking another swig without a word. Tucker looked passed Locus. "And it looks like he still is." Locus whirled around and Tucker burst out laughing at the panicked reaction. "You fell for it! Oh, that's rich!" Locus turned back and glared angrily at Tucker. Locus flicked the cigarette so that it smacked Tucker in the face and put the gag back on, tying it even tighter as Tucker continued to laugh. Locus grabbed the cigarette and walked off. Tucker didn't stop laughing for a good minute or two, it had just been too funny to see someone like Locus panic like that. The Meta must have really freaked him out big time.

Tucker woke up with a start to find he had fallen asleep. It was a moment before he wondered what had woken him up and he looked around. Was that a fire? That was a lot of-Tucker was suddenly wide awake. He looked around at the fire that surrounded him as Locus and his men scattered, running to-and-fro while they looked for a way out. Tucker tugged on the ropes holding him and tried to free himself, but the knots weren't budging. Tucker looked around to find that the soldiers were gone, having left him behind. That didn't come as a surprise but Tucker still managed to make himself panic more when he saw he was alone here. Tucker pulled and yanked on his bonds, rubbing the back of his neck against the tree to try and wear out the knot on the gag. Tucker noted the warthog and that it would explode any moment, he tried harder. The gag gave way first. Tucker coughed at all the smoke.

"HELP! Anybody! Get me the fuck outta here!" Tucker coughed more after wasting the air he had and tugged more and more on his bonds. He felt them shift and a bit of hope rose up in him, but it was instantly shattered when he felt the heat grow stronger. He looked forward to find the flames rising higher and higher, and closer to him! Tucker pulled harder, bruising himself but he didn't care. "HELP!" Who the hell started this anyway? Fuck, it didn't matter! Tucker pulled harder and rubbed the bounds up against the tree in hopes that it might help. Tucker coughed more and more, his air running out quickly. So, this is how he was going to go out? No one would know he was here or-victory! Tucker pulled his arms away from their loose bounds and got to his feet.

Tucker couldn't find a gap in the flames. He turned to what looked to be the lowest of them and used the burning warthog to leap over the flames. He rammed right into a tree and fell to the ground. A searing pain was going through his side but he didn't have time to focus on that, he had to get out of here. Tucker forced himself to his legs, using the tree for balance, and began running again. The smoke and heat around him made Tucker feel like he was running through a small tube and that his lungs had caught fire like the forest had. He stumbled but righted himself and coughed heavily as he ran. Tucker felt like he could sense the falling tree before he saw it.

"Whoa!" he pulled up into a halt as the tree landed in front of him, the flames whipping him in the face. "Ah!" Tucker grit his teeth at the pain but made himself ignore it as he chose a new route out of the flames and kept running. Tucker spotted someone on the ground, struggling to get up as they coughed at the smoke. Tucker halted and grabbed their arm, pulling them to their feet with ease. "Come on!" They nodded and ran beside Tucker in the midst of the flames that threatened to engulf them. Tucker didn't stop forcing his legs to run, making sure the person wasn't left behind and stayed beside him. They were struggling but still managed to keep up.

"This way!" Tucker felt them grab his wrist and tug him to the left. Tucker didn't question it and followed them into another path that the flames hadn't yet quite engulfed yet. Tucker coughed heavier but kept his legs moving beside the other person who hadn't let go of his wrist. Tucker felt like he should look back but he didn't, he knew that if he did he would just panic more. Tucker's eyes widened when he saw the cliff edge and his feet started to halt. "Keep going, we'll be fine!" Tucker kept his legs moving and gulped. Even if this person was on the opposite team, they wouldn't endanger themselves too just to kill him. That would be stupid. Tucker allowed himself a glance back at the flames and decided that he couldn't go back anyway, then looked forward. They both reached the edge and lept into the air, Tucker felt his wrist released as they fell. When Tucker hit the water his muscles seemed to give out and he couldn't make himself swim upwards towards the air. The last thing he remembered was an arm wrapping around him and pulling him upwards.


And that's a wrap! Also, cliffhanger ftw! XP I'll write the next chapter as fast as I can.

Thanks for reading, please review, and have a bow chicka bow wow day~

Petchricor, QotG, signing off ;)